Alex Smith still in black; likely to get green light vs. Bears

(UPDATE: As expected, Alex Smith has been listed as questionable for Monday’s game. Cornerback Chris Culliver (shoulder), who has been limited in practice, is probable).

For the fourth straight day, Alex Smith remains in a non-contact black jersey during practice, but all signs point to the 49ers quarterback starting Monday against the Bears after he sustained a concussion last week.

Alex Smith. (AP)

By all accounts, Smith has been taking the first-team reps this week. On Wednesday, backup Colin Kaepernick said he didn’t take any more snaps in that day’s practice. On Thursday, tight end Delanie Walker said Smith was running the offense and calling all the plays during a walk-through when Harbaugh was absent to have a cardioversion performed to correct an irregular heartbeat.

Tight end Vernon Davis has declared Smith will start (“Right now it looks like Alex will be our quarterback, for sure,” he said on Wednesday) and cornerback Carlos Rogers has teased Smith about his powers of recovery.

“(I asked him) ‘Was it that the game got tough?’” Rogers said. “Did you really have a concussion? What was going on because you passed the test so quick? C’mon, Alex, nobody’s passed a (concussion) test that quick. It’s always in fun. Just glad to see that he’s back and he’s healthy.”

For his part, Harbaugh, who would no doubt like to give the Bears some element of doubt, said Friday that Kaepernick has received a few more snaps than usual this week. Harbaugh also acknowledged Smith was making progress.

“Yeah, seems like things are progressing as it does,” Harbaugh said. “And then the same thing we’ve always said is, again, it’s in the doctor’s hands and they’ll evaluate him as the week goes. There seems to be some progress.”

The official injury report will be released later this afternoon. Smith is likely to be listed as questionable.